Adjustable mounting for doors

ABSTRACT

A device adapted to be mounted in a metal buck or wooden jamb of a door so that conventional hinges may be used to hang the door while the device permits connecting the position by the hinge so that the door may be adjusted and aligned, not only during the initial hanging of the door, but at a later point of time to compensate for settling of the building or other problems. The device includes a mounting bracket which is adapted to mate with a hinge leaf and which is adjustable about a vertical pivotal axis as well as being adjustable within the plane of the door opening parallel to said vertical pivotal axis.

United States Patent 2,683,279 7/1954 Okerlundeta1..............2,854,687 10/1958 Baldaufmu...................

[72] Inventor Samuel Kolmetsky 156 ChestnutSt Woodlynne, NJ. 08107 W e Hu u e n u om n an MO MR w w ebnuu F a O d B n a a m ww 0mmw 1 a m xH 3 E3 y 4 Q e aan 7 0 m o nun 3PAA 1 Q7 9 0 6 3 s 0N M u u JA 0. d N. m wmmAHP ABSTRACT: A device adapted to be mounted in a metal buck or woodenjamb ofa door so that conventional hin used to hang the door while thedevice permits con position by the hinge so that the door ma R O F m F sm M w mm 5 TS mm DC A7 M U not only during the initial hangin nt of timeto compensate for settlin problems. The device includes a moun Ala y 6%060 E m mh c u "M L ."f C m M S k U IF 1 1.1 2 0 5 l. 121

is adapted to mate with a hinge leaf and n i e b S a d w s a .IS. a0 tor 0 .W0 Pd Me .w. flf .0 a m a J. b a e u m mmhm m n.w ow w.wP O1 33 1166 11 S mm T mm NM mm w T m m .n m C m" m5 "n m e M 88 .l fim D WT H70N83 U mm 2.1 11 39 i g 6 5 H ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING FOR DOORS The presentinvention relates to hardware for hanging metal and wood doors on metalbucks and wood jambs by the use of conventional hinges of the type usedin commercial buildings, private homes, etc. In particular, the presentinvention provides an adjusting device which is an accessory which maybe installed in conjunction with conventional hinges to allow movementof the door without resetting the hinges and permit adjustmenthorizontally, or angularly-vertically, or both, so as to overcome thenormal problems encountered in hanging doors and in rehanging doorswhich do not close properly due to settling of the house structure.

When using metal doors and bucks in structures, the standard practice isto make the buck with a hinge backup plate inset into the buck, and toinstall the buck during the rough construction of the building.Consequently, the metal bucks are subject to damage during the earlystages of construction of the building. Such damage may be caused by theweather, or by the normal abuse which may cause bending of the buck orthe backup plate or may cause the buck to be forced out of square andplumb. In addition, the buck and the plates which are provided thereinfrequently become encrusted with plaster, concrete, mortar or the likewhich must be removed before the door is hung and frequently the plateis damaged when it is cleaned of this material Prior to the presentinvention, the correction of these problems required the use of abrasivegrinding, padding out of hinges, bending or spreading the metal bucksand doors by hammering or by the use of prying bars. When hanging woodendoors on metal bucks, such problems may be overcome by shaving the dooror using shims in the hinges, but in any event, there is a substantialloss of time in obtaining a proper fit. When hanging wooden doors inwooden jambs, the problems are not as severe, but it still requires askilled mechanic to obtain a proper fit of the door in the jamb.Furthermore, in wooden building construction, there is a greaterlikelihood of maladjustments arising after completion of theconstruction and the present invention is designed to permit adjustmentof the door after completion of the construction to remedy problemswhich arise thereafter.

With the foregoing in mind, the present invention provides the simpleand economic appliance which may be mounted on the door jamb, or metalbuck and to which conventional hinges may be secured so that afterinstallation of the door, the device may be adjusted without dismountingthe door.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which isof durable construction which is not easily damaged and yet which isfully effective in operation and use.

In particular, the present invention provides an adjustment device whichpermits both pivotal movement of the hinge about a vertical axis andparallel movement of the hinge within the plane of the door opening,these adjustments being effected by a single set screw for eachadjustment.

All of the objects of the invention are more fully set forth hereinafterwith reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing a metal door mountedon a metal buck by the use of a hinge and adjusting device made inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional views taken on the lines 33 and 4-4of FIG. 1 respectively; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary face view as seen from the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 illustrates a standard metal door14 hingedly mounted on a metal buck 15 by the use of a standard hinge 16and an adjusting device 17. The buck 15 is a standard buck which hasbeen modified by providing a mounting for the device in the area of thecutout 21 where the hinge backup plates are normally positioned. Behindthe cutout 21, the standard void box 22 surrounds the eutout 21. Asshown in FIG. 3, the void box 22 is larger than the cutout 21 so as toprovide a marginal area of the buck 15 as indicated at 23 overlying thespace enclosed by the void box 22. The present invention eliminates theneed for providing hinge backup plates in the buck, thereby effecting asubstantial saving.

In accordance with the invention, the adjusting mechanism 17 is mountedon the mounting area 23 within the space formed by the void box 22. Theadjusting mechanism comprises a housing member 25 having a bottom wall26 and a pair of cars 27 which are mounted on the marginal portions 23of the buck by spacer elements 28 and fasteners 29. The spacer elements28 are preferably welded to the back of the areas 23 and are dimensionedin thickness to correspond to the thickness of the standard hinge plate31 of the hinge 16 which is used to hang the door 14. In this way, theface of the hinge leaf 31 is mounted flush with the face of the buck 15when the adjusting mechanism 17 is adjusted to its inward limitposition. Furthermore, the spacer permits the use of a standardflatheaded fastener which is countersunk in the marginal portions 23.

The hinge is mounted on the adjusting mechanism 17 by means of amounting bracket 32 which has a flat face portion facing outwardly toengage flush against the hinge leaf 31. The bracket 32 is provided withtapped apertures to accommodate the standard hinge fasteners 33 asshown. A body extension 35 is provided on the back of the face portionof the bracket 32 to project into the interior of the housing 25, and alug means 36 projects from the side of the body 35, for purpose morefully set forth hereinafter. At the top and bottom, the body 35 isprovided with trunnions 37 which mount the bracket for pivotal movementabout a vertical axis. The trunnions are pivoted in a yoke 41 havingslide blocks 42 secured thereto at its upper and lower ends. The slideblocks 42 are slidable horizontally in guides 43 mounted in the housing25 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The slide blocks 42 are preferably ofsuitable material such as brass or nylon so as to be readily slidable inthe guides 43 without binding. In the present instance, the slide blocks42 are secured to the yoke 41 by the trunnions 37, which project throughthe top and bottom end walls of the yoke and into the slide blocks, andfastening pins 44 which are fixed into the slide blocks and yoke behindthe trunnions 37. Thus, the yoke is readily slidable within the plane ofthe door opening.

To effect sliding adjustment of the yoke and consequently in-and-outadjustment of the hinge leaf 31, a threaded adjusting member is providedat 45 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The adjusting member 45 comprises a setscrewhaving a threaded shank which is engaged in a threaded aperture in thebottom wall 26 of the housing and having an enlarged head 46 with acircumferential groove 47 therearound which engages in a keyhole slot 48in the bottom of the yoke 41. The enlarged head of the adjusting device45 is able to pass through the enlarged portion of the keyhole slot 48and may then engage snugly in the elongated part of the slot. A receiver49 is provided in the top of the head 46 to receive an adjusting tool,in the present instance, the receiver 49 comprises a socket forreceiving an Allen wrench or similar adjusting device. To afford accessto the adjusting member 45, the mounting bracket 32 is provided with athrough bore 51, and a registering aperture 52 is provided in the hingeleaf 31. In this way, access to the socket 49 is provided to enableadjustment of the yoke 41 inwardly and outwardly within the plane of thedoor opening.

As is well understood by a skilled mechanic, the ability to adjust thehinge leaves 31 of the hinges which hang the door inwardly and outwardlywithin the plane of the door opening permits angular adjustment of thedoor to accommodate to the door opening, permitting the latch side ofthe door to be elevated and lowered and also permitting horizontaladjustment of the door latch relative to the keeper.

In order to effect adjustments of the door to fit properly within theplane of the door opening, means is provided to adjust the hinge leavesby tilting them about a vertical axis parallel to the axis of the pin ofthe hinge 16. In the present instance, this is accomplished by pivotingthe bracket'32 on the trunnions 37. An adjusting member 53 is providedto effect this pivotal adjustment, in the present instance, a setscrew.The setserew 53 comprises a threaded shank portion having an enlargedhead 54 with an angular groove extending about its periphery as shown inFIG. '3. The shank is threaded into the yoke member and the groovereceives the lugs 36 of the body extension 35 of the bracket 32. The lugmeans 36 are provided with an internal angular rib to engage in thegroove 55 so that threaded adjustment of the screw 53 in the bottom ofthe yoke 41 effects pivotal movement of the bracket 32 on the trunnions37 (see P16. 4). In order to adjust the screw 53, the head 54 isprovided with a tool receiver 56, in the present instance a hex socket,which is adapted to receive the standard Allen wrench or similaradjusting device. To afford access to the socket 56 of the adjustingscrew 53, the bracket 32 is provided with a through aperture 58 and thehinge leaf is provided with a similar aperture 59 registering with thebracket aperture 58 (see FIG. 3).

Since the apertures 52 and 59 are exposed when the door is opened whilestill hung on the jamb or buck, adjustment of the hinge to provide aproper fit may be accomplished without dismounting the door. This is ofextreme advantage not only during the initail hanging of the door, butis advantageous so that the hinges may be adjusted after construction iscompleted by the housewife or by a relatively unskilled maintenanceperson.

It is contemplated that the adjusting device would be installed in thejamb or buck during the initial construction of the building. However,it may be found desirable to install an adjusting device in accordancewith the present invention in previously hung door assemblies. Where thejamb is accessible, a recess may be cut out to receive the deviceof thepresent invention, which may be mounted in a manner somewhat similar tothat described above. Where the jamb is not accessible, the adjustingdevice may be inset into the door rather than into the jamb or buck.Devices of the present invention may also be installed in both the doorand the jamb or buck. It is noted that the device can be mounted in thedoor by simply reversing the device The broken lines 52' and 59' to theleft in FIG. ll indicate openings which may be made in the hinge leaf toafford access to the adjusting devices when such devices are mounted inthe door rather than the jamb or buck. When mounted in the door, thedevices effectively operate to permit proper fitting of the door in thejamb or buck initially, and are fully effective to permit repeatedadjustments of the door to compensate for problems which may arise afterthe hanging of the door is completed.

it should be noted that the adjusting device of the present inventionpermits the use of standard hinges which need only to be drilled atspecified points to afford access to the adjusting members. in theillustrated embodiment of the device, the backup plate is dimensionedand drilled and tapped to accommodate a 3Vz-inch hinge, but the platemay be modified to accommodate any other standard hinge. Furthermore,the hinge leaves are firmly mounted on the door and in the jamb againsta solid backup plate or surface so that there is not any substantialopportunity for dirt, vermin or other foreign matter to become lodgedtherein to prevent proper functioning of the device. The savings in timewhich are possible as a result of the present invention will more thanpay for the slight additional cost of the device.

All of the objects of the invention may be accomplished by the preferredembodiment illustrated herein, although it is obvious that additionalchanges and modifications may be made as desired to accommodate theinvention to particular end uses.

l claim:

1. For mounting a hinge having a hinge pin interconnecting a pair ofhinge leaves, a mounting bracket having a face portion and a bodyportion extending rearwardly from said face portion said face portionincl udin means for mounting one of the hinge leaves of said hinge ushthereagamst, a yoke member, trunnions mounting said bracket on said yokemember for pivotal movement about an axis substantially parallel to thehinge pin of said hinge, an adjusting member engaging between saidbracket and said yoke to determine the pivotal position of saidbracketon said yoke member, a housing mounting said yoke for slidingmovement in a direction perpendicular to said trunnions including slideand guide assemblies at opposite ends of said yoke, and an adjustingmember engaging between said yoke and said housing to determine thesliding position of said yoke.

2. A device according to claim ll wherein each of said adjusting memberscomprises a member having a threaded shaft and an enlarged head with agroove extending therearound, said shaft being threaded into one of theengaged elements and said groove receiving the other of said elements.

3. A device according to claim 1 including a tool receiver in each ofsaid adjusting members and registering apertures in said bracket and themounted hinge leaf, said apertures being aligned with said receiver sothat a tool may be engaged in said receivers to adjust the membersfollowing mounting of said leaf on said bracket.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said slide and guide assembliesinclude a slide block mounted on said yoke and a guide on said housing.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said mounting means includesspacer elements having a thickness corresponding to the thickness ofsaid hinge leaf.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein said bracket front face issubstantially coextensive with said hinge leaf intermediate the hingeleaf mounting means.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said hinge leaf mounting meansincludes tapped apertures in registry with fastener apertures in saidhinge leaf, so that said device is operable to mount the hinge leaf withconventional fasteners.

1. For mounting a hinge having a hinge pin interconnecting a pair ofhinge leaves, a mounting bracket having a face portion and a bodyportion extending rearwardly from said face portion, said face portionincluding means for mounting one of the hinge leaves of said hinge flushthereagainst, a yoke member, trunnions mounting said bracket on saidyoke member for pivotal movement about an axis substantially parallel tothe hinge pin of said hinge, an adjusting member engaging between saidbracket and said yoke to determine the pivotal position of said bracketon said yoke member, a housing mounting said yoke for sliding movementin a direction perpendicular to said trunnions including slide and guideassemblies at opposite ends of said yoke, and an adjusting memberengaging between said yoke and said housing to determine the slidingposition of said yoke.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein each ofsaid adjusting members comprises a member having a threaded shaft and anenlarged head with a groove extending therearound, said shaft beingthreaded into one of the engaged elements and said groove receiving theother of said elements.
 3. A device according to claim 1 including atool receiver in each of said adjusting members and registeringapertures in said bracket and the mounted hinge leaf, said aperturesbeing aligned with said receiver so that a tool may be engaged in saidreceivers to adjust the members following mounting of said leaf on saidbracket.
 4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said slide and guideassemblies include a slide block mounted on said yoke and a guide onsaid housing.
 5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said mountingmeans includes spacer elements having a thickness corresponding to thethickness of said hinge leaf.
 6. A device according to claim 1 whereinsaid bracket front face is substantially coextensive with said hingeleaf intermediate the hinge leaf mounting means.
 7. A device accordingto claim 6 wherein said hinge leaf mounting means includes tappedapertures in registry with fastener apertures in said hinge leaf, sothat said device is operable to mount the hinge leaf with conventionalfasteners.